A rare domaine that only owns Grand Crus.
Corton-Charlemagne is a special vineyard that is praised as the world's best white wine along with Montrachet. Bonneau du Maltrey owns a wide range of fields and is said to be synonymous with it.
Speaking of Bonneau du Martrai, in 2017 it was acquired by the owner of Screaming Eagle, a representative California cult wine, and the vineyard was rented from Bonneau du Martrai and Domaine de la Romanée. The news that Conti (DRC) will begin production of Corton Charlemagne shocked the world.
A rare domaine that only owns Grand Crus.
Domaine Bonneau du Martrey boasts a very ancient history. In a book published in 1855, the Bonneau family was mentioned as one of the owners of the 70 hectares of Corton white grapes owned by Emperor Charlemagne. In 1966, the father of the former head of the family, Count Jean-Charles Le Baux de la Molinière, inherited 11 hectares of fields that had once belonged to the Bonneau family. From 1994 until April 2017, the previous owner, Count Moniere, was in charge of the domaine.
Of the total area of approximately 11 hectares of fields owned by Bonneau du Martray, Corton Charlemagne is approximately 9 hectares and Corton is approximately 2 hectares. He is a great maker who only works with special fields. Among Burgundy producers, Bonneau du Maltray is the only one that owns only special fields, which is one of the reasons why it is highly regarded.
In January 2017, the shocking news was announced that Bonneau du Martrai would be acquired by the owner of Screaming Eagle, a representative California cult wine. Count Molinière, the head of the domaine at the time, told French media, ``The most important thing is that the dignity and identity of the domaine are maintained,'' and he continued to be the head of the domaine until he left the domaine in April 2017. I was involved in wine making.
Tremendous potential hidden in Charlemagne's fields
Some of the fields in Corton-Charlemagne owned by Bonneau du Martray are said to have once belonged to Charlemagne, the great king who ruled all of Europe during the Middle Ages.
Currently, this field is planted with vines that are 40 to 60 years old, with the exception of some newly planted trees.The field is located on a steep slope facing west, and has calcareous soil that does not contain any clay. The grapes grown here produce wine with concentrated minerality. Another feature of this field is that it receives sunlight until late in the evening, making it extremely blessed with sunny hours. Long hours of sunlight favors photosynthesis, and grapes that are well-grown and exposed to sufficient sunlight bring finesse and strength to wine.
It is no exaggeration to say that the unique terroir owned by Charlemagne is what enhances the potential of Bonneau du Martrai's wines. Therefore, we are particular about cultivation to make the most of the splendor of the terroir. The previous owner, Count Morinière, placed great importance on maintaining a good environment around the fields.
Special small tractors are used to cultivate the soil, which is less of a burden on the land and people than using horses. In order to grow good grapes, he believed that it was important to maintain the health of not only the fields and soil, but also all animals, insects, and plants, so in fact, the hills of Bonneau du Martelai are lush with trees and a variety of plants. Animals and insects maintain the ecosystem and maintain the overall environment of Colton Hill. The water-holding capacity of the tree roots ensures that the vines are well-hydrated even in dry years.
